EP0541291B1 - Moteur à combustion interne - Google Patents

Moteur à combustion interne Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0541291B1
EP0541291B1 EP92309907A EP92309907A EP0541291B1 EP 0541291 B1 EP0541291 B1 EP 0541291B1 EP 92309907 A EP92309907 A EP 92309907A EP 92309907 A EP92309907 A EP 92309907A EP 0541291 B1 EP0541291 B1 EP 0541291B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
cylinder
fuel
piston
engine according
engine
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EP92309907A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP0541291A1 (fr
Inventor
Dan Merritt
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Coventry University
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Coventry University
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Priority claimed from GB919123489A external-priority patent/GB9123489D0/en
Priority claimed from GB929214044A external-priority patent/GB9214044D0/en
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Publication of EP0541291A1 publication Critical patent/EP0541291A1/fr
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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02B—INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL
    • F02B19/00—Engines characterised by precombustion chambers
    • F02B19/02—Engines characterised by precombustion chambers the chamber being periodically isolated from its cylinder
    • F02B19/04—Engines characterised by precombustion chambers the chamber being periodically isolated from its cylinder the isolation being effected by a protuberance on piston or cylinder head
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02B—INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL
    • F02B19/00—Engines characterised by precombustion chambers
    • F02B19/06—Engines characterised by precombustion chambers with auxiliary piston in chamber for transferring ignited charge to cylinder space
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02B—INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL
    • F02B75/00—Other engines
    • F02B75/02—Engines characterised by their cycles, e.g. six-stroke
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02B—INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL
    • F02B1/00—Engines characterised by fuel-air mixture compression
    • F02B1/02—Engines characterised by fuel-air mixture compression with positive ignition
    • F02B1/04—Engines characterised by fuel-air mixture compression with positive ignition with fuel-air mixture admission into cylinder
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02B—INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL
    • F02B1/00—Engines characterised by fuel-air mixture compression
    • F02B1/12—Engines characterised by fuel-air mixture compression with compression ignition
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02B—INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL
    • F02B75/00—Other engines
    • F02B75/02—Engines characterised by their cycles, e.g. six-stroke
    • F02B2075/022—Engines characterised by their cycles, e.g. six-stroke having less than six strokes per cycle
    • F02B2075/025—Engines characterised by their cycles, e.g. six-stroke having less than six strokes per cycle two
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02B—INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL
    • F02B3/00—Engines characterised by air compression and subsequent fuel addition
    • F02B3/06—Engines characterised by air compression and subsequent fuel addition with compression ignition
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
    • Y02T10/00—Road transport of goods or passengers
    • Y02T10/10—Internal combustion engine [ICE] based vehicles
    • Y02T10/12—Improving ICE efficiencies

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an internal combustion engine.
  • Internal combustion engines can be classified as segregating or non-segregating engines. All such engines use a compression stroke which precedes the ignition and combustion of fuel which is mixed with air.
  • a non-segregating engine the fuel is mixed with the air before the start of the compression stroke as is the case with spark ignition gasoline engines commonly called SIGE engines.
  • SIGE engines known as stratified charge engines, which are not now common, the fuel is introduced to the air during the compression stroke but well before ignition which is started with a spark.
  • stratified charge engines which are not now common, the fuel is introduced to the air during the compression stroke but well before ignition which is started with a spark.
  • the maximum compression pressure is limited since a pre-mixed air-fuel gas mixture can be ignited by the high temperature generated in the compression process before the spark occurs.
  • SIGE engines require the air fuel mixture to be nearly chemically correct. This restriction together with lower compression ratios and the need to throttle the air input at part load, which are all associated with this combustion system, result in a relatively poor thermal efficiency for the SIGE engine. Its main advantage is a fast combustion process, hence higher engine speed and power brought about by the fast burn of a pre-mixed gaseous mixture of fuel and air.
  • a segregating engine will compress all, or most of the air, without fuel and introduce the fuel into the air near the end of the compression stroke at the point where ignition is to be started.
  • the familiar segregating engine is the diesel engine which injects liquid fuel into the combustion chamber, under very high pressure, near the end of the compression stroke.
  • the segregating engine has the capability of much higher thermal efficiency compared with the SIGE engine, particularly at part load. Its compression pressures, which enhance efficiency, are not limited by the danger of pre-ignition. No throttling is required at part load so avoiding pumping losses. Lean burning at part load is possible which also improves thermal efficiency.
  • the disadvantage of the diesel segregation method is the relatively long time it takes to inject the liquid fuel and vaporise it before it can ignite and burn fast.
  • the diesel engine is therefore thermally more efficient than the SIGE engine but cannot run at the same high RPM as the SIGE and produces less power from a given size and weight. At high loads and high speed, combustion proceeds well into the expansion stroke, greatly penalising the thermal efficiency of the diesel engine.
  • EP-A-0 431 920 which corresponds to GB-A-2238830 describes an internal combustion engine which has first and second cylinders, the first cylinder having a larger swept volume than the second cylinder and the second cylinder being formed in the crown of the first cylinder.
  • First and second pistons are reciprocable respectively in the first and second cylinders, the second piston being formed as a protrusion on the crown of the first piston.
  • a combustion chamber is formed in the second piston with an air port opening into the first cylinder and a second port opening into the second cylinder.
  • a first inlet is provided for supplying air or the like into the first cylinder during an induction stroke of the first piston, together with a fuel inlet for supplying fuel to the second cylinder.
  • a passage extends between the first and second cylinders to enable the transfer of air from the first cylinder to the second cylinder other than through the combustion chamber over a preselected angle of movement of the pistons relative to the cylinders for assisting movement of gases from the second cylinder into the combustion chamber. Additional control means for controlling the movement of air is also provided.
  • the Merritt engine has one or more sets of first and second cylinders and respective first and second pistons movable in said cylinders.
  • the first cylinder has a larger swept volume than the second cylinder and an air inlet valve and/or port and an exhaust valve and/or port communicate with the first cylinder.
  • a fuel source provides fuel to the second cylinder.
  • the Merritt engine is therefore a segregating engine like the diesel engine with a difference that some small quantity of the air is compressed with all the fuel in the smaller second cylinder, whereas most of the air is compressed on its own in a larger first cylinder.
  • the very rich fuel/air mixture in the second cylinder will not explode during compression because it is too rich.
  • a small quantity of fuel can also be mixed with the air in the first cylinder without exploding during the compression stroke because it is too lean.
  • the Merritt engine Compared with the segregating diesel engine where fuel is injected into the engine at the end of the compression stroke, the Merritt engine allows fuel to be delivered to the engine for a substantially longer part of the cycle period of the engine. In that way, the fuel is given longer to vaporise from liquid to gas but not to mix fully with most of the compressed air originally in the first cylinder until combustion is under way in the combustion chamber.
  • Gas dynamic segregation is distinguished from the mechanical type segregation of the diesel engine where a mechanical valve device (typically a needle valve in the fuel injector) shuts off the fuel supply to the engine until the moment of fuel delivery.
  • a mechanical valve device typically a needle valve in the fuel injector
  • the air contained in the larger first cylinder and combustion chamber is known to move into the smaller second cylinder during most of the compression stroke. This creates a flow of air from the combustion chamber to the second cylinder where all, or most, of the fuel is contained, thus stopping the movement of fuel into the combustion chamber.
  • the gas flow is reversed as the pressure in the second cylinder becomes greater than that in the combustion chamber and the fuel which has vaporised in the smaller cylinder together with a small proportion of the air has to enter the combustion chamber.
  • the thermal efficiency of reciprocating internal combustion engines can be greatly improved by providing the following features:
  • the present invention seeks to provide an improved internal combustion engine.
  • an internal combustion engine comprising:
  • valve as used herein embraces a port.
  • air as used herein includes any suitable mixture of oxygen with other usually inert gases as well as substantially pure oxygen for combustion with gaseous or liquid (i.e. vaporised liquid) fuel. It may contain recirculated exhaust gases, crankcase gases and a small proportion of hydrocarbon substances present in recirculated internal combustion engine gases.
  • gression refers to the movement of fuel/air mixture from the second cylinder into the combustion space at or towards the end of the compression stroke.
  • GB-A-2246394 (published 29 January 1992) to the applicants discloses an internal combustion engine having a type of piston which enables a combustion space to be produced more easily and also gives a number of other important advantages.
  • An example of this type of piston is shown in Figure 1.
  • the combustion space or chamber 20 is only partially defined or bounded by the second piston 18.
  • the second piston can have a crown 35 which is spaced from and connected to the crown 36 of the first piston and which has an edge 37 in the axial direction which is relatively thin compared to the spacing of the first piston crown 36 from the second piston crown 35, in the axial direction, the second piston crown preferably always remaining in the second cylinder.
  • the larger cylinder 12 has inlet and exhaust valves 24,26.
  • the smaller piston 18 is concentric with the larger piston 16 and includes a pillar 234 and a raised portion or base 84 by which a crown 35 of the piston 18 is connected to or integral with the piston 16.
  • the pillar 234 is curved in contour, the curve encouraging swirl of the air entering the combustion space 20 from larger cylinder 12 and swirl of the fuel/air mixture following ingression into the combustion space 20.
  • the combustion space 20 is defined between the pillar 234 and the wall, indicated generally at 14a, of the smaller cylinder 14.
  • the shape and size of the pillar are chosen to produce a suitable combustion volume of appropriate size and shape.
  • the edge 37 is spaced slightly away from the wall 14a of the second cylinder to define inhibiting means in the form of an annular gap 128 which inhibits ingression prior to the pistons arriving at or adjacent the inner dead centre position.
  • the upper end of the smaller cylinder 14 as viewed in the drawing is formed with an optional peripheral groove 39 which, when present, provides a by-pass to promote ingression.
  • the upper end of the smaller cylinder 14 is provided with access means indicated generally at 30 comprising a second inlet valve 31 and a throttle valve 32.
  • the access means enables control of the pressure in the second cylinder to a value below the pressure in the first cylinder during an early part of the compression stroke, thereby to inhibit ingression prior to the second piston arriving at or adjacent its inner dead centre position.
  • a fuel injector 34 is provided for delivering liquid fuel into the inlet duct 33 leading to the inlet valve 31.
  • the throttle valve 32 controls the quantity of air flowing through the inlet duct 33 and does so substantially independently of the quantity of the fuel delivered by the fuel injector 34.
  • the pressure in the smaller cylinder 14 can be controlled accurately to provide optimum timing of ingression which will, in turn, control ignition timing to give optimum running characteristics of the engine over its full speed and load range.
  • the operation of the throttle valve 32 and also the operation of the injector 34 is preferably controlled by an engine management system M.
  • the throttle valve 32 controls the air mass entering the smaller cylinder 14 and can ensure that during the induction stroke of the engine, the air/fuel mixture entering the smaller cylinder 14 through the inlet valve 31 will normally be below the pressure in the larger cylinder 12.
  • the timing of the closure of valve 31 after the closure of inlet valve 24 during the early part (during part or all of the first half) of the compression stroke can also ensure that the pressure in the second cylinder 14 is below the pressure in the first cylinder 12 when valve 31 closes.
  • the difference in pressure across the crown 35 of the piston 18 during the compression stroke will have an effect on the timing of ingression of contents of the smaller cylinder 14 into the combustion space 20 near the inner dead centre position of the piston 18 at the end of the compression stroke.
  • This controls the timing of the ignition of vaporised fuel by, for instance, compression ignition when the fuel/air mixture in cylinder 14 meets the relatively hotter air delivered to the combustion space 20 by the larger piston 16 during the compression stroke.
  • the fuel entering the second cylinder via second inlet valve 31 vaporises in the smaller cylinder 14.
  • the peripheral edge 37 of the crown 35 reaches the position shown in broken lines adjacent the by-pass 39 which effectively increases the size of the inhibiting means and the air/fuel mixture in vapour form rushes around the peripheral edge 37 through the by-pass 39 and into the combustion space 20.
  • the air in the combustion space is compressed and is at a sufficiently high temperature to cause spontaneous ignition of the fuel/air mixture entering the combustion space and expansion of gases in the combustion space then forces the pistons 16, 18 downwardly to start an expansion stroke.
  • the axial length of the groove 39 is greater than the thickness t of the second piston crown 35 to provide an enlarged gap for the fuel/air mixture to ingress around the crown through the by-pass groove 39.
  • the groove 39 also provides a clearance volume in the second cylinder 14, that is a volume which is not diminished by movement of the piston 18 in the second cylinder.
  • the clearance volume effectively delays ingression timing by providing extra volume for the fuel/air mixture in cylinder 12 during the compression stroke but which communicates with the combustion space 20 at the time of ingression.
  • Another function of the groove 39 is to allow the flame and the resulting pressure increase in combustion space 20 to communicate with the space above the second piston crown 35. In that way the flame can burn off any fuel which remains above the second piston crown 35 following ingression.
  • the size of the gap 128 can be selected so that the gap 128 alone i.e. without the by-pass 39, provides the entire inhibiting means forming the passageway for ingression. In such a case, the size of the gap 128 is carefully chosen to ensure adequate segregation between the upper surface of crown 35 and the combustion space 20 during most of the compression stroke.
  • the crown 35 is cooled by the incoming fuel and air entering through second inlet valve 31, by the effect of vaporisation of the fuel in the air during the compression stroke and by conduction of heat through pillar 234.
  • Valve 31 may be used as a dual inlet and exhaust valve which has the advantage that any unburnt fuel remaining in cylinder 14 at the end of the exhaust stroke need not leave the engine, so reducing exhaust pollution.
  • Figures 2 to 4 are diagrammatic cross-sections through part of a preferred form of internal combustion engine 10 according to the present invention which is similar to that shown in Figure 1 with like parts having like numbers.
  • the engine of Figures 2 to 5 has separate pistons.
  • the first piston 16 is movable in the first cylinder 12 and is sealed thereto by means of piston rings 16a whilst the smaller second piston 18, movable in the second cylinder 14, is sealed thereto by means of piston rings 18a.
  • Both pistons 16, 18 are connected through respective linkages to a common crank shaft or, alternatively, separate crank shafts which are mechanically coupled.
  • the arrangement shown is such that the pistons are operated substantially in phase but they can also operate with some phase difference.
  • the axis of the cylinder 14 and piston 18 is arranged at right angles to the axis of the cylinder 12 and piston 16, with the cylinder 14 communicating with the cylinder 12 through a port 29.
  • the piston 18 includes a body 19 and a bobbin shaped end portion formed by a pillar 234 by which a crown 35 of the piston is connected to or integral with the body 19.
  • the combustion chamber or space 20 is defined between the pillar 234 and the wall 14a of the smaller cylinder 14 in a similar manner to that of Figure 1.
  • the small cylinder 14 communicates with the larger cylinder 12 through the port 29 which is positioned so as to communicate with the combustion chamber 20 during most of the stroke of the second piston 18.
  • the stroke of the latter is arranged so that at its outer dead centre position the peripheral edge 37 of the piston 18 preferably intersects the port 29 so that the larger cylinder 12 communicates both with the combustion chamber 20 and the swept volume of the smaller cylinder 14, whereas at the inner dead centre position the port 29 is preferably substantially closed by the body 19 of the piston 18.
  • the piston rings 18a are positioned on the body 19 sufficiently far from the pillar 234 that they do not intersect the port 29.
  • the larger piston 16 may have a protrusion 100 which enters and substantially closes the port 29 when the piston is at its inner dead centre position.
  • the arrangement of the two pistons 16, 18 enables the larger piston 16 to be provided with a different stroke to that of the smaller piston 18 and also to retain a conventional piston shape. This enables existing crank cases to be converted more easily for use in accordance with the present invention.
  • the smaller piston 18 may be located in the engine cylinder head with a cooperating crank shaft arranged parallel with the crank shaft for the larger piston 16.
  • the smaller piston 18 can be arranged parallel with the larger piston 16 and may be actuated by a cam or other suitable mechanism.
  • the groove 39 of Figure 1 may be incorporated in the embodiment of Figs. 2 to 5 and the cross sectional shape of the groove 39 may vary from that shown in Figure 1.
  • the groove may have a frustoconical lower wall 39b which provides a gradual rather than an abrupt increasing gap as the piston 18 nears its inner dead centre position.
  • a diesel hybrid engine arrangement in accordance with the present invention which benefits from the Merritt engine segregation system is shown in Figure 7A.
  • a second fuel source in the form of a high pressure fuel injector 60A or 60B is provided at one of two preferred locations, the first fuel source (injector 34) being arranged to deliver fuel into inlet passage 33 as before.
  • valves 24 and 31 are opened to enable substantially unthrottled air to be admitted into the larger cylinder 12 and fuel and air to be admitted to the smaller cylinder 14.
  • the injector 34 provides substantially the whole of the required quantity of fuel for combustion in the engine
  • the injector 34 in the Figure 7A arrangement provides only a fraction of that quantity.
  • the injector 60A or 60B delivers its charge of fuel, in diesel engine fashion, directly into the combustion space 20 beneath the piston crown 35 or into the port 29.
  • the vaporised fuel and air mixture above the crown 35 ingresses to the combustion space 20 through the gap 128 defined between the edge 37 of the piston and the wall 14a of the smaller cylinder, now enlarged through by-pass groove 39.
  • Such ingression is also possible if the gap 128 is very small if groove 39 is provided.
  • air from the larger cylinder 12 will have entered the combustion space and will be at a temperature sufficient to ignite the ingressed fuel/air mixture.
  • the injector 60A, 60B is timed to deliver its fuel charge under pressure into the combustion space 20 so as to provide extremely rapid ignition thereof in the presence of the burning ingressed mixture.
  • the engine utilises both the fuel segregation method typical of the diesel engine in the form of injector 60A or 60B and the fuel segregation method typical of the Merritt Engine described here.
  • Such a combination of the diesel engine and Merritt Engine principles will enable a diesel engine to operate at high fuelling rates with very little, if any, smoke emission and may also enable diesel engines to operate at lower compression ratios and at higher engine speeds. The combination considerably increases the speed of combustion compared with a diesel engine unaided by the Merritt Engine principle.
  • the amounts of fuel delivered by the injectors 34 and 60A or 60B and the timing thereof will be controlled by means such as an engine management system M in order to provide the correct proportions of fuel between the injectors 34 and 60A or 60B for given running requirements so as, for example, to minimise smoke emission in the exhaust gases.
  • a small (e.g. 4% - 10% of the total fuel) amount of fuel can be injected by the injector 34 to vaporise in cylinder 14 and pass to the combustion chamber for compression ignition. This allows the stroke and axial length of the bobbin to be small.
  • the fuel from injector 34 may be preheated to assist vaporising.
  • the pillar 234 is shown longer than that of Figs.2 to 5. This elongation allows the combustion chamber to communicate with port 29 at the inner dead centre position of the pistons, the port 29 thus becoming a part of the combustion chamber. If injector 60A is used then the protrusion 100 will fill only a portion of the port 29.
  • Figure 7B is a view of the embodiment of Figure 7A showing the pistons at their outer dead centre positions.
  • a gas aperture 135 is formed by the crown 35 of the smaller piston moving beyond the edge of the port 29, allowing blowdown of exhaust gases at the start of the exhaust stroke.
  • Figure 8A is a side elevation, partly in section, of the engine of Figure 7A showing the shape of the passage 29 and protrusion 100 when fuel injector 60A is used. This may be necessary where the bobbin is small and the combustion chamber is therefore small, to provide the necessary clearance volume. As can be seen, the protrusion 100 can be shaped conveniently to assist in promoting swirl motion in the gases in the combustion chamber.
  • Figure 8B is a view similar to that of Figure 8A showing an arrangement in which the total volume of the combustion chamber is increased by the provision of a cavity 229 in the upper surface of the piston 16, replacing the protrusion 100.
  • An alternative position for the second fuel injector is shown at 60C.
  • Figure 9 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a practical arrangement of the engine shown in Figure 7B.
  • STCI spark triggered compression ignition
  • spark ignition which is used widely in spark ignition engines known as Otto engines or spark ignition gasoline engines (SIGE), where the spark initiates a flame which travels rapidly within a pre-mixed gas volume of fuel and air.
  • SIGE spark ignition gasoline engines
  • the ignition by spark is the first of a two stage ignition processes, namely spark-ignition and compression-ignition. In the first stage spark-ignition only initiates a localised flame in the fuel vapour beginning to ingress into the combustion space from the fuel management cylinder, as it begins to mix with air within the combustion space.
  • This spark ignition occurs before the completion of the ingression process in other words before all the fuel has had time to transfer from the fuel management cylinder into the combustion space and to mix with all the air needed for its combustion which is present in the combustion space.
  • the spark ignition stage is a process similar to that of igniting, with a spark, a jet of gaseous fuel whilst it mixes with air on the periphery of the jet.
  • the engine system needs to operate with compression ratios which are insufficient to compression ignite the particular fuel chosen during the early moments of ingression.
  • the compression ratio may be lowered to a value of say 10:1 for STCI, whereas if compression ignition were to be used on its own with such a fuel a compression ratio value of, for example, 16:1 may be needed.
  • the spark plug is also positioned in a place where it meets fuel vapour whilst the latter mixes with the air in the combustion chamber in the early part of the ingression process. The spark plug generates a spark at the correct time to initiate the compression ignition process.
  • the engine's geometrical compression ratio may be lowered to a point where compression ignition of the fuel used will not take place below, for example, 12:1 for very high octane gasolines and below 10:1 for mid-range Octane rating gasoline.
  • This design feature ensures that the pre-vaporised fuel being transferred, or ingressed, from the smaller cylinder 14 into the combustion chamber 20 will not ignite spontaneously on contact with the air in the combustion chamber but will await the spark generated at spark plug 52 by an external control circuit.
  • the spark plug ignites a rich mixture of pre-vaporised fuel in some air at the moment when it begins to mix with some more air and under such conditions that spark ignition can reliably take place.
  • Spark ignition only affects the fuel which has ingressed across the crown of the second piston by the time spark ignition has taken place.
  • the pressure and temperature rise associated with the combustion initiated by the spark subjects the remainder of the fuel ingressing across the piston crow to ignition by compression.
  • the main advantage of this method of operation is a much simpler ignition control, through the energising of a spark plug.
  • the exact moment of ingression is no longer critical and ingression can start earlier than is possible with purely compression-ignition engines operating without spark assistance.
  • FIG 11 shows possible locations for the spark plug 52.
  • the spark plug is shown situated inside the groove 39 in a strategic place where the fuel vapour meets air circulating under the crown of the second piston.
  • the air flow direction is illustrated diagrammatically with a thick arrow and the fuel with a thin arrow.
  • the spark plug is shown positioned just below the groove 39. In such a case spark ignition can advantageously be timed to occur as soon as the second piston crown begins to uncover the groove 39.
  • Figure 12 shows a further embodiment of engine in which the Merritt segregation system can be combined with the SIGE principle in which fuel and air are premixed at least during the compression stroke for subsequent ignition by the spark to produce power.
  • the two combustion principles operate sequentially.
  • the engine shown in Figure 12 is constructed in an identical manner to that shown in Figs.2 to 5 with the addition of a spark plug 52 and fuel/air management system 80 typical of a spark ignition engine.
  • the system 80 includes a fuel dispenser which, in this case is a low pressure injector 82 (but which could comprise a fuel/air metering device such as a carburettor) and a throttle valve 83.
  • a fuel dispenser which, in this case is a low pressure injector 82 (but which could comprise a fuel/air metering device such as a carburettor) and a throttle valve 83.
  • a fuel dispenser which, in this case is a low pressure injector 82 (but which could comprise a fuel/air metering device such as a carburettor) and a throttle valve 83.
  • a fuel dispenser which, in this case is a low pressure injector 82 (but which could comprise a fuel/air metering device such as a carburettor) and a
  • the engine may be started up and warmed up as a spark ignition engine operating the system 80 with the fuel injector 34 switched off and the throttle valve 32 in the inlet duct 33 closed.
  • a fuel/air mixture is admitted through inlet valve 24 into the larger cylinder 12.
  • the mixture is compressed into the combustion space 20 where it is ignited by a spark from spark plug 52, ignition being timed to take place around inner dead centre.
  • the throttle valve 83 By opening the throttle valve 83 and increasing fuel supply, the power may be increased.
  • throttle valve 83 may be opened fully at full load.
  • the injector 82 can be switched off, throttle 83 opened, injector 34 switched on and throttle valve 32 operated normally whereby the engine will operate in the manner described with respect to Figure 10.
  • the switch over can be made gradually by admitting an increasing amount of spark ignitable mixture through second inlet valve 31 into the second cylinder 14 whilst reducing the quantity of mixture admitted through inlet valve 24 under control of an engine management system.
  • the hybrid arrangement of Figure 12 can provide the engine with a choice of running modes.
  • the Merritt running mode will be particularly advantageous when requiring part-load fuel economy or when wishing to operate on different fuels, e.g. alcohols which can be supplied to injector 34, the Merritt mode is less sensitive to fuel variation and particularly octane number.
  • the SIGE mode may be used at full load to achieve full air utilization when maximum power is required.
  • Figs.13A to 13B the smaller piston 18 is shown with four radial projections 90 extending from its crown 35 to provide sideways support for sliding contact with the wall 14a of cylinder 14.
  • the gap 128 should be interrupted as little as possible by the projections 90 which will be dimensioned accordingly.
  • the projections will in effect operate as dry bearing elements for the piston crown they should be made from a suitable material which can also withstand high temperatures.
  • the wall 14a of the second cylinder 14 is formed with radially inwardly directed axially extending projections 900 which provide support for the crown 35 of piston 18 in place of the projections 90 in Figs.13A to 13C.
  • the projections effectively interrupt the gap 128.
  • the projections may also be inclined to the cylinder axis but with an axial component.
  • the smaller piston is substantially of a mushroom shape having a centre pillar with a crown at its upper end.
  • Figs.14A and 14B illustrate an alternative construction where the crown 35 is supported by a number of circumferentially spaced pillars 100 which extend from the body 19 of piston 18.
  • the piston 18 can include a base 84 as shown in broken lines. Such an arrangement still provides a substantially open combustion space 20 as well as leaving a thin edge 37 over a substantial part of the crown 35 to facilitate the formation of the inhibiting gap 128 as shown in Figure 14B.
  • a curved projecting member 101 may be positioned beneath the crown 35, e.g. on the base 84 as shown in broken lines.
  • the projecting member may include vanes to promote rotational flow about the axis of the piston.
  • FIG. 15 A further construction for the smaller piston 18 is shown in Figure 15 where a skirt 110 interconnects the crown 35 with the body 19 of piston 18 and in which skirt is formed with a plurality of substantial apertures 111.
  • the apertures are preferably of varying width as shown, for example, of inverted triangular shape to maximise the circumferential length of the thin edge 37 of the crown 35.
  • a projecting member 101 can be provided and a base 84 can also be provided.
  • Figure 16 illustrates a form of the engine of the present invention which can operate on a two stroke cycle.
  • inlet and exhaust valves 24 and 26 are replaced by inlet and exhaust ports 124 and 126 respectively.
  • a spark plug 52 may be provided on wall 14a of the smaller cylinder 14 as shown in Figs.10 to 12 for starting and/or idling and/or on STCI operation.
  • the engine is provided with the access means 30 comprising inlet valve 31 with or without the throttle valve 32.
  • the inlet valve 31 can be cam operated or electromagnetically operated.
  • a fuel source such as low pressure injector 34 is positioned upstream of valve 31 and can deliver fuel to an inlet duct 33 when valve 31 is either closed or open.
  • the engine can also be operated as a diesel hybrid in a 2-stroke form with an injector 60A or 60B as described in Figures 7 to 9.
  • Smaller piston 18 is of mushroom shape although it could be of the kind shown in Figs. 14 or 15.
  • air is admitted from a suitable source 132 of pressurised air, e.g. a crankcase or external pump, to the ducts 33 and 133 at above atmospheric pressure.
  • Duct 33 may be supplied with air from a separate source if desired.
  • the inlet port 124 (connected to duct 133) is uncovered by piston crown 36, air under pressure enters the larger cylinder 12 whilst exhaust gases from a previous cycle are displaced through exhaust port 126.
  • valve 31 opens and admits air from duct 33 into the smaller cylinder 14 above crown 35. Some of that air will displace exhaust gases from the previous cycle through the inhibiting gap around the crown 35, when the crown 35 is at its outer dead centre position.
  • the gap 135 assists in the movement of exhaust gases from the smaller cylinder 14 to the larger cylinder 12, allowing blow down to take place at the start of the exhaust process.
  • Fuel may enter the smaller cylinder 14 with the air as soon as valve 31 opens but alternatively the start of the fuel delivery could be delayed until the piston 18 moves a little from its outer dead centre position to close the gap 135 and preferably before the exhaust port 126 is covered by the larger piston 16.
  • the closing of valve 31 should preferably be delayed until the pressure in the larger cylinder begins to rise during the early part of the compression stroke after the exhaust port 126 is closed. In that way the Merritt segregation principle using gap 128 is assisted.
  • valve 31 is electromagnetically actuated, variation in closing timing may be used to control ingression instead of throttle valve 32. Towards the end of the compression stroke, ingression of the fuel air mixture takes place through inhibiting gap 128 and possibly through the by-pass groove 39, if provided.
  • Ignition follows by contact with hot air in the combustion space 20 with or without assistance from the spark plug which communicates directly with combustion space 20 beneath crown 35 when the latter is near the inner dead centre position.
  • the exhaust gases escape from the exhaust port 126 and the gap 135 will assist in equalising the pressure across the small piston crown 35.
  • the two stroke cycle for the Merritt engine can operate in any of the aforesaid hybrid arrangements with both diesel and spark engine cycles including the spark triggered compression ignition arrangement.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Combustion Methods Of Internal-Combustion Engines (AREA)
  • Valve Device For Special Equipments (AREA)
  • Valve-Gear Or Valve Arrangements (AREA)
  • Fuel-Injection Apparatus (AREA)
  • Luminescent Compositions (AREA)
  • Hybrid Electric Vehicles (AREA)
  • Ignition Installations For Internal Combustion Engines (AREA)
  • Brushless Motors (AREA)

Claims (31)

  1. Moteur à combustion interne/explosion comprenant:
    au moins un jeu de premier et second cylindres (12, 14), le premier cylindre (12) ayant un plus grand volume cylindré que le second cylindre (14);
    le premier et le second pistons respectivement pouvant se déplacer dans les cylindres en question;
    un moyen d'entrée d'air (24) communiquant avec le premier cylindre;
    un moyen d'échappement (26) communiquant avec le premier cylindre;
    une première source de carburant (34) pour amener le carburant au second cylindre;
    des moyens (234, 14a) définissant un espace de combustion (20) lorsque les pistons sont essentiellement aux positions internes exactement au centre, l'espace de combustion communiquant avec les deux cylindres pendant au moins une partie de la course de détente;
    un moyen d'inhibition (128) pour inhiber le mouvement du mélange carburant/air du second cylindre dans l'espace de combustion jusqu'à la fin de la course de compression;
    un moyen d'accès (30) associé au second cylindre pour recevoir le carburant et/ou l'air dans le second cylindre pendant la course d'admission, le moyen d'accès en question comprenant un premier orifice (33) s'ouvrant dans le second cylindre en quetion et une première soupape (31) pour contrôler ledit orifice;
    et un moyen d'accouplement (C) reliant lesdits premier et second pistons de telle manière que lesdits pistons puissent se déplacer dans lesdits cylindres d'une manière cyclique, à la même fréquence;
    dans lequel le second piston a une couronne (35) et une partie de corps (19), ladite couronne est espacée de ladite partie du corps, est aussi reliée à ce corps et a un bord (37) qui est relativement petit dans la direction axiale par comparaison à la distance entre ladite couronne et ladite partie du corps dans la direction axiale, pour définir ainsi l'espace de combustion (20) entre ladite couronne de piston et ladite partie du corps et une paroi latérale (14a) dudit second cylindre;
    et dans lequel le bord (37) de la couronne du second piston est radialement espacé du bord adjacent (14a) du second cylindre (14) pour définir un intervalle (128) qui comprend ledit moyen d'inhhibition;
    caractérisé par le fait que le second piston (18) is formé séparément du premier piston (16);
    et par le fait que ladite couronne (35) est espacée de la partie du corps à laquelle elle est reliée par une colonne (234,100).
  2. Un moteur selon la revendication 1 dans lequel l'espace de combustion en question (20) communique avec ledit premier cylindre (12) grâce à un second orifice (29).
  3. Un moteur selon la revendication 2 dans lequel ledit premier piston (16) a une saillie (100) formée sur une couronne qui s'engage dans ledit second orifice (29) à la position interne parfaitement centrale afin de déplacer le gaz dudit orifice (29) dans ledit espace de combustion (20).
  4. Un moteur selon la revendication 2 dans lequel ledit premier piston (16) a un rentré (229) formé dans la couronne et faisant face audit second orifice (29).
  5. Un moteur selon la revendication 2, 3 ou 4 des présentes, à une position interne parfaite et au centre dudit second piston (18) le bord dudit piston (37) entrecoupe ledit second orifice (29) pour ouvrir ledit second cylindre au premier cylindre au-dessus de la couronne dudit second piston (35).
  6. Un moteur selon n'importe quelle revendication de 2 à 5 dans lequel, à la position interne parfaitement au centre dudit second piston (18) ladite partie du corps (19) dudit second piston , ferme ledit second orifice (29).
  7. Un moteur selon n'importe quelle revendication de 2 à 5 dans lequel, à une position interne parfaitement au centre dudit second piston (18), l'espace de combustion en question (20) s'ouvre dans ledit premier cylindre (12) grâce audit second orifice (29).
  8. Un moteur selon la revendication 7 dans lequel une seconde source de carburant (60A), sous forme d'un injecteur de carburant liquide à haute pression, est située pour amener dans ledit second orifice (29) une quantité de carburant sous pression en plus du carburant amené audit second cylindre (14) par ladite première source de carburant (34).
  9. Un moteur selon n'importe quelle revendication de 2 à 6 dans lequel la seconde source de carburant (60B), sous la forme d'un injecteur de carburant liquide à haute pression, est située en vue d'amener une quantité de carburant sous pression dans ledit espace de combustion, en plus du carburant amené audit second cylindre (14) par ladite première source de carburant (34).
  10. Un moteur selon n'importe quelle revendication de 2 à 6 dans lequel une seconde source de carburant (60C) sous forme d'injecteur de carburant liquide à haute pression, est placée en vue d'amener une quantité de carburant sous pression dans ledit premier cylindre (12) en plus du carburant fourni audit second cylindre (14) par ladite première source de carburant (34).
  11. Un moteur selon la revendication 8, 9 ou 10 ayant des moyens (M) pour contrôler la première source de carburant en question (34) pour fournir une partie de la quantité totale de carburant nécessaire au second cylindre (14) dans l'espace au-dessus de la couronne (35) du second piston (18), et pour contrôler ladite seconde source de carburant (60A, 60B, 60C) pour amener une autre partie de la quantité totale de carburant dans le second orifice (29) ou dans l'espace de combustion (20), ou dans le premier cylindre lorsque le second piston (18) s'approche de sa position interne parfaitement au centre.
  12. Un moteur selon n'importe laquelle des revendications précédentes comprenant encore un moyen (52) pour contrôler l'ignition du carburant dans l'espace de combustion en question (20).
  13. Un moteur selon la revendication 12 dans lequel le moyen de contrôle en question (52) comprend une bougie d'allumage.
  14. Un moteur selon la revendication 12 ou 13 dans lequel le rapport de compression du moteur est inférieur à ce qui est requis pour que l'allumage par compression ait lieu.
  15. Un moteur à explosion selon n'importe laquelle des revendication précédentes dans lequel le second cylindre (14) est formé ou est adjacent à son extrémité interne au moyen définissant une première déviation (39) autour du bord de la couronne du second piston (35) lorsque le second piston (18) est adjacent à la position interne parfaitement au centre.
  16. Un moteur à explosion selon la revendication 15 dans lequel ledit premier moyen de déviation (39) a une longueur axiale supérieure à l'épaisseur du bord (37) de la couronne dudit second piston (35).
  17. Un moteur à explosion selon la revendication 15 ou 16 dans lequel le premier moyen de déviation en question (39) est une rainure formée dans la paroi (14a) du second cylindre (14) se prolongeant au moins sur une partie de la circonférence du second cylindre.
  18. Un moteur à explosion selon n'importe quelle revendication 15, 16 ou 17, dans lequel ledit premier moyen de déviation (39) est défini par un élargissement brusque ou progressif (39, 39b) de l'alésage du second cylindre (14).
  19. Un moteur selon la revendication 17 ou 18, quand elle est jointe à la revendication 13, dans lequel ladite bougie d'allumage (52) est située dans ladite rainure (39).
  20. Un moteur selon la revendication 19 dans lequel ladite bougie d'allumage (52) est située adjacente à ladite rainure (39).
  21. Un moteur selon n'importe laquelle des revendications précédentes dans lequel le moyen d'accès (30) comprend une première zone d'écoulement variable (32) en amont de la première soupape (31).
  22. Un moteur selon la revendication 21 dans lequel la soupape à débit variable (32) est une vanne-papillon ou clapet d'étranglement.
  23. Un moteur selon n'importe laquelle des revendications précédentes dans lequel la première source de carburant (34) est située en amont de la première soupape (31).
  24. Un moteur selon n'importe laquelle des revendications précédentes dans lequel la vanne à débit variable (83) est placée en amont dudit moyen d'admission de l'air (25) communiquant avec ledit premier cylindre (12) pour permettre la restriction de l'alimentation d'air audit premier cylindre pendant les conditions de charge partielle du moteur.
  25. Un moteur selon n'importe quelle revendication de 18 à 20 quand elle est jointe à n'importe quelle revendication de 1 à 7 dans lequel le moyen d'accès (30) comprend une première vanne à débit variable (32) en amont de la première vanne (31) et une deuxième source de carburant (82) est prévue dans ledit orifice d'admission d'air (25) dudit premier cylindre (12) pour fournir un mélange carburant/air qui peut être allumé par étincelage pour permettre au moteur de fonctionner selon un mode d'allumage par étincelage conventionnel.
  26. Un moteur selon la revendication 25 ayant:
    une seconde vanne à débit variable (83) placée en amont dudit orifice d'admission d'air (25) et communiquant avec ledit premier cylindre (12) pour permettre la restriction de l'alimentation d'air audit premier cylindre pendant les conditions de charge partielle du moteur;
    et les moyens de contrôle (M) pour contrôler ladite première et ladite seconde sources de carburant (34,82) et ladite seconde vanne à débit variable (83), pour changer le moteur entre le mode traditionnel d'allumage par étincelage, dans lequel ladite première source de carburant et inopérante ou pratiquement inopérante et la seconde vanne à débit variable (83) est partiellement fermée pour limiter la température de compression à en-dessous de la valeur d'allumage par compression et un mode d'allumage par compression avec ou sans l'assistance de l'allumage par étincelage dans lequel ladite seconde source de carburant (82) est inopérante ou pratiquement inopérante et ladite seconde vanne à débit variable (83) est pratiquement complètement ouverte pour hausser la température de compression et permettre l'allumage par compression.
  27. Un moteur selon la revendication 25 ayant:
    une seconde vanne à débit variable (83) placée en amont dudit orifice d'admission d'air (25) et communiquant avec ledit premier cylindre (12) pour permettre la restriction de l'alimentation d'air vers ledit premier cylindre pendant les conditions de charge partielle du moteur;
    et un moyen de contrôle (M) pour contrôler ladite première et ladite seconde source de carburant (34,82) et ladite seconde seconde vanne à débit variable (83) pour changer le moteur entre ledit mode d'ignition par étincelage classique dans lequel ladite première source de carburant est inopérante ou pratiquement inopérante et la seconde vanne à débit variable (83) est partiellement fermée pour contrôler la température de compression et un mode d'allumage par compression déclenché par une étincelle dans lequel ladite seconde source de carburant (82) est inopérante ou pratiquement inopérante et la seconde vanne à débit variable (83) est pratiquement ouverte complètement.
  28. Un moteur selon n'importe laquelle des revendications précédentes dans lequel le moteur fonctionne en un cycle à deux temps.
  29. Un moteur selon la revendication 28 ayant des moyens (M) pour contrôler ladite première vanne (31) pour fermer ladite première vanne pendant ou après la clôture dudit moyen d'échappement (126).
  30. Un moteur selon n'importe laquelle des revendications précédentes dans lequel l'espace (128) est un intervalle annulaire continu entre ledit bord (37) de la couronne du second piston (35) et la paroi adjacente (14a) du second cylindre (14).
  31. Un moteur selon n'importe quelle revendication de 1 à 29 dans lequel l'intervalle en question (128) est interrompu par deux ou plusieurs saillies radiales (90,900) sur au moins une couronne du second piston en question (35) et une paroi (14a) du second cylindre (14) qui peut s'engager de manière à glisser avec l'autre de la couronne du second piston en question et ladite paroi du second cylindre pour fournir le support pour le second piston (18).
EP92309907A 1991-11-02 1992-10-29 Moteur à combustion interne Expired - Lifetime EP0541291B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9123489 1991-11-02
GB919123489A GB9123489D0 (en) 1991-11-02 1991-11-02 Internal combustion engine
GB9214044 1992-07-02
GB929214044A GB9214044D0 (en) 1992-07-02 1992-07-02 An internal combustion engine

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0541291A1 EP0541291A1 (fr) 1993-05-12
EP0541291B1 true EP0541291B1 (fr) 1996-05-15

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EP (1) EP0541291B1 (fr)
JP (1) JP3357902B2 (fr)
KR (1) KR100286484B1 (fr)
CN (1) CN1035895C (fr)
AT (1) ATE138156T1 (fr)
AU (1) AU658683B2 (fr)
BR (1) BR9206701A (fr)
CA (1) CA2081598C (fr)
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DK (1) DK0541291T3 (fr)
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GB (1) GB2261028B (fr)
GE (1) GEP20002110B (fr)
GR (1) GR3020258T3 (fr)
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LV (1) LV11807B (fr)
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RU2108471C1 (ru) * 1992-07-02 1998-04-10 Ковентри Юниверсити Двигатель внутреннего сгорания и способ его работы
GB2272941A (en) * 1993-06-18 1994-06-01 Reginald Arthur Piper Two-stroke engine.
ES2092379T3 (es) * 1993-06-26 1996-11-16 Univ Coventry Motor de combustion interna.
US6003487A (en) * 1995-08-05 1999-12-21 Merritt; Dan Internal combustion engine
US5817912A (en) * 1997-01-16 1998-10-06 B.M.R.A. Corporation B.V. Transgenic mice with disrupted NPY Y1 receptor genes
SE524347C2 (sv) * 2002-02-01 2004-07-27 Scania Cv Abp Förbränningsmotor
JP4558090B1 (ja) * 2009-01-20 2010-10-06 康仁 矢尾板 茸弁の傘部の底面を覆う部品を持つピストン式エンジン
CN106662000A (zh) * 2014-01-21 2017-05-10 彼得·库尔特 往复活塞式内燃机及往复活塞式内燃机的运行方法
CN104234818B (zh) * 2014-09-18 2018-04-10 石建民 一种二冲程内燃机
WO2019000113A1 (fr) * 2017-06-27 2019-01-03 钱金虎 Moteur à combustion à détonation à statoréacteur avec piston libre
CN109611192B (zh) * 2018-12-26 2021-05-04 重庆长安汽车股份有限公司 一种汽油机高压喷入气体的装置、发动机及汽车
KR20210106035A (ko) * 2018-12-28 2021-08-30 이브라힘 무니어 한나 상대 운동 점유 구조물을 갖는 실린더 시스템

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CA2081598C (fr) 2000-08-29
GB2261028A (en) 1993-05-05
MD1212C2 (ro) 2000-02-29
CN1035895C (zh) 1997-09-17
RU2100625C1 (ru) 1997-12-27
EE02964B1 (et) 1997-02-17
ES2088110T3 (es) 1996-08-01
SK328192A3 (en) 1994-08-10
DE69210759D1 (de) 1996-06-20
BR9206701A (pt) 1995-10-24
MD950090A (en) 1996-06-28
AU658683B2 (en) 1995-04-27
WO1993009337A1 (fr) 1993-05-13
JP3357902B2 (ja) 2002-12-16
CN1082664A (zh) 1994-02-23
IN185712B (fr) 2001-04-14
CA2081598A1 (fr) 1993-05-03
KR100286484B1 (ko) 2001-04-16
SK280502B6 (sk) 2000-03-13
JPH07500648A (ja) 1995-01-19
AU2741692A (en) 1993-05-06
DE69210759T2 (de) 1996-09-26
ATE138156T1 (de) 1996-06-15
DK0541291T3 (da) 1996-07-29
CZ284706B6 (cs) 1999-02-17
CZ328192A3 (en) 1993-12-15
EP0541291A1 (fr) 1993-05-12
GB2261028B (en) 1995-07-26
GB9222710D0 (en) 1992-12-09
GEP20002110B (en) 2000-05-10
LV11807A (lv) 1997-06-20
US5406912A (en) 1995-04-18
LV11807B (en) 1997-10-20
MD1212B2 (en) 1999-04-30
GR3020258T3 (en) 1996-09-30

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